RATIONALE: Diagnosis of a malignant disease can cause serious psychological problems in patients as well as their intimate partners. AIM: This study investigated anxiety, depression, posttraumatic symptoms and feelings of guilt in patients and their partners segregated by sex. METHOD: In a clinical representative sample 248 cancer patients and 154 of their partners were assessed using standard questionnaires shortly after diagnosis and again six and twelve months thereafter. RESULTS: Cancer patients' female partners most frequently indicated psychopathology that required treatment (29% anxiety, 33% depression, 17% posttraumatic symptoms). CONCLUSION: Cancer patients' female partners are at high risk of developing psychopathology. Hence they routinely should be included in patient exploration and, if need be, referred to psychooncological treatment.
RATIONALE: Diagnosis of a malignant disease can cause serious psychological problems in patients as well as their intimate partners. AIM: This study investigated anxiety, depression, posttraumatic symptoms and feelings of guilt in patients and their partners segregated by sex. METHOD: In a clinical representative sample 248 cancerpatients and 154 of their partners were assessed using standard questionnaires shortly after diagnosis and again six and twelve months thereafter. RESULTS:Cancerpatients' female partners most frequently indicated psychopathology that required treatment (29% anxiety, 33% depression, 17% posttraumatic symptoms). CONCLUSION:Cancerpatients' female partners are at high risk of developing psychopathology. Hence they routinely should be included in patient exploration and, if need be, referred to psychooncological treatment.
Authors: Alfred Künzler; Fridtjof W Nussbeck; Michael T Moser; Guy Bodenmann; Karen Kayser Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2013-08-29 Impact factor: 3.603